Lady Flames finish Senior Weekend 5-0 on home beach volleyball courts

Gallery: (3-5-2024) beach volleyball Senior Weekend

For the second time this semester, Liberty University's women's beach volleyball team dominated its competition with a 5-0 record at Friday's and Saturday's home duals matches, over the Lady Flames' Senior Weekend at the East Campus Sand Volleyball Courts.

In their first home matches of the season, the Lady Flames improved to 11-9 on the season by shining brightly against visiting teams from NCAA Division III University of Lynchburg, Lancaster (Pa.) Bible College, and junior college programs Richard Bland College, Gaston (N.C.) College, and Wake (N.C.) Tech College.

In the team's opening match against Richard Bland, No. 1-seeded seniors Syd Metzker and Lizzy Armstrong led Liberty to a 4-1 team triumph by winning their matchup against Sarah Heath and Alexis Sipione, 25-23, 21-13.

set 1 — Graduate Maggie Marable set sophomore Brie Olson. (Photo by Maddie Kent)

The Lady Flames' toughest match of the weekend came Friday night against the cross-town rival Hornets, when Liberty was able to clinch the match victory after the No. 4-seeded pair of sophomore Brenna Rae Bentley and senior Abigail Luke rallied to defeat Tori Williamson and Laney Burns, 18-21, 21-14, 16-14.

Saturday's results were more decisive than those on Friday, with the Lady Flames only dropping one set in the three matches against NCSVA club program rival Lancaster Bible (5-0), Gaston (4-1), and Wake Tech (5-0).

"I was especially impressed with our seniors Lizzy Armstrong and Syd Metzler," Liberty Head Coach Jessica Nelson said. "They conducted themselves really well in their final match to finish the day. That's the strongest I've seen Syd offensively, so that was really fun to see them out there."

swing 1 — Senior Abigail Luke hit the ball. (Photo by Brooke McDuffee)

Nelson said that she appreciated the opportunity to host the event as it allowed some of the student-athletes who don't typically compete on the road the chance to play.

"One of the big things with this home event is you have everyone there," she said. "We have 18 girls rostered, but we really only take 12 when we travel. When we're on the road, it doesn't give us a ton of wiggle room to pair people differently unless we can bring more. This event was really great for girls who haven't been on the travel roster yet and vice versa, for the girls who have been (on the travel roster), to cheer on those girls."

The weekend sweep came on the heels of an 0-4 showing at the indoor Grand Sands Volleyball Tournament in Loveland, Ohio, where the Lady Flames were shut out by NCAA DI opponents Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, and Austin Peay State, as well as NCAA DII opponent Tusculum University.

Liberty now awaits a doubleheader match in Jefferson City, Tenn., against NCAA DII Carson-Newman University on March 23.

Liberty 4, Richard Bland 1

Syd Metzker/Lizzy Armstrong (LU) d. Sarah Heath/Alexis Sipione, 25-23, 21-13
Grace Cropper/Jill Kater (LU) d. Lani Goggin/Aubrey Hyndshaw, 19-21, 21-8, 16-14
Cara Lecklider/Eliza Griffin (LU) d. Morgan Green/Jordan Schlageta,21-12, 21-19
Brenna Rae Bentley/Abigail Luke (LU) d. Kiley Pickett/Peyton Ostenson 21-16, 21-12
Phoebe Heath/Addison White (RB) d. Brie Olson/Maggie Marable, 21-11, 21-17

Liberty 3, Lynchburg 2

Metzker/Armstrong (LU) d. Jordan Palmer/Kailey Keough, 21-17, 21-16
Savannah Yanz/Amanda Trapp (UL) d. Kater/Cropper, 21-14, 21-18
Lecklider/Avaree Kellert (LU) d. Mady Shirey/Parker Lynch, 21-12, 21-12
Bentley/Luke (LU) d. Tori Williamson/Laney Burns, 18-21, 21-14, 16-14
Sydney Phillips/Margo Fox (UL) d. Julia McGuirk/Marable, 21-19, 21-19

Liberty 5, Lancaster 0

Cropper/Kater d. Leah Helman/Madeline Reed, 24-22, 21-6
Lecklider/Kellert d. Sophia Ansel/Tessa Kwatkowski, 21-9, 21-6
Bentley/Griffin d. Alaina Herr/Chloe Stenberg, 21-10, 21-9
McGuirk/Kinley Phillips d. Grace Stoltzfus/Brittany Martin, 21-3, 21-17
Ava Ewald/Katy Parker d. Madi Timberlake/Lea Sareyka, 21-7, 21-15
Kate Richards/Ava Suarez d. Ashlynn Fisher/Anastasia Monro, 19-21, 21-11, 15-5

Liberty 4, Gaston 1

Metzker/Armstrong (LU) d. Cristina Rotola/Val Rodriguez, 17-21, 21-13, 15-7
Naomi Hilliard/Maddie Dearing (GC) d. Cropper/Kater, 21-16, 21-19
Cara Lecklider/Avaree Kellert (LU) d. Milica Gauric/Millea Styles, 21-4, 21-10
Abbie Luke/Eliza Griffin (LU) d. Carli Phillips/Bianca Bowland, 21-8, 21-18
Julia McGuirk/Maggie Marable (LU) d. Leilani Nolasco/Camryn Reavis, 21-15, 21-8
Gracie Hall/Brie Olson (LU) d. Jayla Thomas/Olivia Ceballos, 21-10, 21-15

Liberty 5, Wake Tech 0

Metzker/Armstrong d. Abby Carver/Gabi Carter, 21-17, 21-8
Lecklider/Kellert d. Brooke Geiger/Liv Garzellone, 21-10, 21-6
Bentley/Luke d. Marcy Oros/Joey Starkweater, 21-11, 21-9
Olson/Phillips d. Megan Riverbark/Cicily Wallace, 21-5, 21-5
McGuirk/Marable d. Molly Clabby/Kennedy George, 21-6, 21-11

By Christian Shields/Staff Writer; Video by Patrick Strawn/Club Sports Director of Video & Media

Lady Flames finish Senior Weekend 5-0 on home beach volleyball courts

Players Mentioned

Lizzy Armstrong

Grace Cropper

Ava Ewald

Eliza Griffin

Gracie Hall

Avaree Kellert

Cara Lecklider

Abigail Luke

Maggie Marable

Julia McGuirk

Katy Parker

Kinley Phillips

Ava Pilar Suarez

Lady Flames finish Senior Weekend 5-0 on home beach volleyball courts

Players Mentioned

Lizzy Armstrong

Grace Cropper

Ava Ewald

Eliza Griffin

Gracie Hall

Avaree Kellert

Cara Lecklider

Abigail Luke

Maggie Marable

Julia McGuirk

Katy Parker

Kinley Phillips

Ava Pilar Suarez

Related Videos